Category: Events

Recently members of the Community Coalition of Forest County
discussed ways to approach the underlying issues related to addiction in our
county. The mental health well-being of
our youth is one of our greatest concerns and recent actions by various
organizations in the county prove that we all are willing to invest time and
energy into improving the health and well-being of our residents.

However, sometimes it is not easy to know when and how to
help a youth experiencing a mental health or substance abuse problem. That’s why the Community Coalition is
sponsoring a one-day free evidence-based training titled “Youth Mental Health
First Aid” for school personnel, faith leaders, coaches, and other caring
community members who have regular contact with young people ages 12-18.

Youth Mental Health First Aid participants will gain
knowledge of common mental health challenges for youth and learn strategies to
help youth in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

The session will be offered on Tuesday, February 12th
from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Forest County courthouse board room. Instructors are Sara Foster and Stephanie
Feldner of CESA 8.

The training is free and open to individuals who live or
work in Forest county. Space is limited
to 30 participants. Lunch is provided by
the Community Coalition of Forest County.

Online registration is available here or by contacting UW-Extension educator Michelle Gobert at 715-478-7797.

The Laona School District invites the community to take a visible stand against drugs by celebrating Red Ribbon week during the week of October 22nd.

Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs facing our community, and encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles.

This October the Leadership Council at Crandon Middle School is promoting a community-wide Red Ribbon walk and Community Café.The goal of the council is to have students, families and community members join forces to promote the importance of being a drug free community.

Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign that runs from October 23-31. The walk will begin at 5pm on Wednesday, October 24th and will start at the Courthouse Square, downtown Crandon. We will walk together as a community that stands against drugs from the courthouse to the school using the walking trail.

Along the route, participants will have an opportunity to view positive messages on being drug free which will be posted at local businesses and spots along the trail. Once at the school, a light snack will be served and Mike McGowan, a nationally known trainer, consultant and motivational speaker, will guide a Community Café. The purpose of the café is to give the community stakeholders an informal and safe place to discuss concerns surrounding teen drug use. The stakeholders include family members, community members, business owners and the various community agencies.

Agenda:

5:00-6:00 PM Red Ribbon Community Walk (Courthouse to School)

Gain facts on the importance of being drug free

Light snack at the school (Cafeteria)

6:00 PMMike McGowan – Community Café (HS Gym)

Learn about our local data on teen drug use

Learn about ways teens are gaining access to drugs

Please consider joining us in promoting positive and healthy habits for our youth. The entire community is encouraged to wear red on October 24th to show support for Red Ribbon Week. If you have any questions, contact Tina Taylor at 715-478-6166 or taylotin@sdofcrandon.com.

The Community Coalition of Forest County is partnering with the Human Service Center of Forest, Oneida and Vilas Counties to offer Forest County residents numerous opportunities to view a free screening of the documentary “Written Off”. The next Forest County screening date is Wednesday, October 3rd at the Crandon High School.

“Written Off” chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery. His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you: One Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.

In addition to the film, parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to tour Forest County Health Department’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” mock teen bedroom, which will be set up at the school. The interactive room is a simultaneously amusing and horrifying scavenger hunt, which helps adults spot the signs of substance abuse or addiction that may be hiding in a teen bedroom. This will be set up to view at 5:30 pm and “Written Off” will begin at 6:00 pm. A discussion panel of local law enforcement, Matthew’s mother, Jane, and local recovery coaches will follow the documentary. Admission is free and no registration is required.

For more information about the documentary film and/or the Mock Teen bedroom, please contact the Forest County Health Department at 715-478-3371.

The Community Coalition of Forest County is partnering with the Human Service Center of Forest, Oneida and Vilas Counties to offer Forest County residents numerous opportunities to view a free screening of the documentary “Written Off. ” The next Forest County screening date is Wednesday, May 23rd at the Laona High School.

“Written Off” chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery. His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you : one Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.

The documentary film will be shown beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Laona High School. The screening is recommended for ages 14 and up. Admission is free and no registration is required.

In addition to the film, parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to tour Forest County Health Department’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” mock teen bedroom which will be setup at the school. The interactive room is a simultaneously amusing and horrifying scavenger hunt which helps adults spot the signs of substance abuse or addiction which may be hiding in a teen bedroom.

For more information about the documentary film and/or the Mock Teen bedroom, please contact the Forest County Health Department at 715-478-3371.

In 2016 more Americans died from overdoses than in the entire Vietnam War conflict. And yet those new casualties are rarely considered victims of disease. With the support of Rep. Ann Kuster, (D-NH), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, the documentary film “Written Off” is challenging conventional thinking about addiction.

The film chronicles the life of Matthew Edwards, a Crandon High School graduate, whose addiction to opioids began at age 15, after being prescribed pain medicine for a minor surgery. His grippingly honest writing reveals the secrets he tried so hard to conceal throughout a decade long struggle to escape addiction. Matthew’s mother, Jane Funk, currently a teacher at Crandon High School, published the book “What I Couldn’t Tell you : one Man’s Struggle with Opioid Addiction” in June of 2017 and worked with filmmakers Molly Hermann and Rob Lyall on the “Written Off” documentary.

Who we are

The Community Coalition of Forest County (CCFC) is a 501 (3) (c) Non-Profit Organization that was formed in 2008 for the purpose of informing and engaging all age groups and cultures in our diverse county in a collaborative effort to measurably improve the health and well-being of our residents with a focus on substance abuse and prevention.